#EUREF: Fate of Greece will delineate Ireland’s means of remaining within the Eurozone

RTE’s The Week in Politics is well worth watching… It was the Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore who drew the short straw left him by the Taoiseach’s refusal to debate Gerry Adams on television.. It was notable more for the heat than any modicum of light it generated from either side.

“Let’s stick to Ireland…” was Gerry Adams answer to the Sean O’Rourke’s opener on the crisis in Greece. And he did, no matter how many times he was invited to speculate about what may become of Greece, Adams refused to be drawn away from the island of Ireland.

Not far into the debate, O’Rourke remarked “maybe I am wasting my time asking you about Greece”. Adams consistent focus on Irish unemployment brought him some benefits, not least because Gilmore made the mistake of doing what Micheal Martin said the Yes side shouldn’t… ie, to allow “rebuttals to dominate their efforts.”

But Greece is relevant. An exit would demonstrate that nothing inside the Eurozone will come to any country as of right. Mr Adams has been aided in his absolute defence by the fact that that it hasn’t happened yet. Good behaviour will be rewarded with access to ESM, bad behaviour and the door, if not open is certainly sitting ajar.

Half way through the programme, there is a cut of Ms Legarde (she who holds the big umbrella), saying it is all about “implementation, implementation, implementation”. The bottom line of that in the short to medium term at least, is austerity on the terms laid out in the Fiscal Compact…

Related

About Mick Fealty

Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

I doubt Eamon did himself many favours by taking on Adams on his chosen ground, ie domestic politics

To my Nordie mind, Gerry generally has more presence… but dodging of the Greek bullet is a big hole the credibility of his argument…

Bangordub

Thanks Mick,
Politically, I think Adams did himself no harm, I reckon the Shinners are effectively repositioning themselves as the voice of the left in the South, deposing Labour who are now vulnerable being tied to Fine Gael. This is a “Long Game” being played out in my humble opinion

Mick Fealty

I agree. We have yet to Labour hit the bottom of the political market.Their first big pyschological test will come if/when they hit single figures.

Even though SF are losing the argument the #euref is bolstering theirappeal as the party of protest.

One caveat though. The fact they are losing that argument so comprehensively to FF probably more than to government will not be lost on the property owning middle class.

Bangordub

“The fact they are losing that argument so comprehensively to FF probably more than to government will not be lost on the property owning middle class.”
You have a point there Mick. And that’s why M. Martin is the right leader at the right time for FF. Serious, non flamboyant, intelligent and equipped with a plan.
I’m not convinced that they are losing the argument with the FF voter gene pool though, both parties were up 2% in the most recent poll

Mick Fealty

The psrt of the gene pool most vulnerable is the one Labour pulled in during the gale. For now the polls arent showing enough gain to best statistical error so any analysis other than consolidation would be wide of the mark.

Scáth Shéamais

The fact they are losing that argument so comprehensively to FF probably more than to government will not be lost on the property owning middle class.

That might become an interesting battleground as it seems that SF are putting out some feelers in that direction.